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Stir Stix are
our newest devices for stirring in deep well microplates, vials and
test
tubes. STIR STIX are special stainless
steel tubes that are very magnetic and can be moved by any of our
Alligator
Tumble Stirrers or our new
Vortex Stirrers. The STIR
STIX mix by moving back and forth inside the well or vial instead of
tumbling a disc or dowel end over end.
Data on how high
Stir Stix microplates can be stacked and still mix can be
found at this link.
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The Stir Stix are always longer
than the diameter of the vessel they are in, so
they can't tumble but move back and forth providing a very vigorous
stirring
action at the top and bottom of the liquid. This vigorous action
has several advantages in
stirring tall vials, deep well blocks and test tubes.
One of our customers approached us with a
problem they were having in dissolving compounds that floated on the
top of the
liquid. Our solution was to develop a Stir Stix that was very magnetic and
taller than meniscus level, so the surface
of the liquid and the compound are vigorously mixed. These are
now available in
Stainless Steel and encased in PTFE. We have made a video
to
demonstrate this unique stirring action, which can be viewed
below. In the video a
Stir Stix mixes
up a
"Tequila
Sunrise" * (sucrose solutions of different color and density).
When
stirring very viscous materials we also offer
Alnico and Rare Earth Magnet Stir
Bars.
Download
Video of Stir StiX in action
(mpeg movie- 3.5MB)
Press
the play button to view the video in a flash format, flash must
be installed, or click the download link to download a mpeg
version. |
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To the right is a
VP 710A Alligator Tumble Stirrer with a custom top designed to
accommodate a customers vial rack system. The enlarged photo on
the right illustrates a before and after mixing sequence.
Download
Video of Stir StiX in action
(mpeg movie- 13.0MB)
Download
Video of Stir StiX in action
(mpeg movie- 3.84MB)
Press
the play button to view the video in a flash format, flash must
be installed, or click the download link to download a mpeg
version.
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| Part
# |
Type |
Length |
Diameter |
Package Size |
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VP 733 |
Stainless Steel |
31.8 mm |
1.58 mm |
100/pkg |
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VP 734 |
Stainless Steel |
25.4
mm |
1.58
mm |
100/pkg |
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VP 735 |
Stainless Steel |
19 mm |
1.58 mm |
100/pkg |
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VP 736 |
Stainless Steel |
12.7
mm |
0.787
mm |
100/pkg |
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VP 737 |
Stainless Steel |
7.6
mm |
0.787
mm |
1000/pkg |
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VP 733-2 |
PTFE encapsulated |
34.6 mm |
2.50 mm |
100/pkg |
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VP 734-2 |
PTFE encapsulated |
28.2
mm |
2.50
mm |
100/pkg |
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VP 735-2 |
PTFE encapsulated |
21.8
mm |
2.50
mm |
100/pkg |
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VP 736-1 |
Parylene Coated |
12.80
mm |
0.89
mm |
100/pkg |
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VP 737-1 |
Parylene Coated |
7.8
mm |
0.89
mm |
1000/pkg |
To determine whether you
should use Stainless Steel, Parylene or PTFE encapsulated Stir StiX check the
Chemical Resistance Charts.
A very complete discussion of
parylene's barrier
characteristics, properties and methods of deposition is
found at this hyperlink. Another page is dedicated to
parylene's resistance to organic
solvents, acids and bases.
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Autoclaveable
Drop Dispensers are used to place all three lengths of sterile PTFE
encapsulated Stir Stixs into wells after the liquid is added.
This 3 in one dispenser can be sterilized by autoclaving or by heating
in a hot air oven. The VP 733-2A dispenser contains 96 ordered
holes in a top loading plenum that is 22 mm deep. By adding
additional plenums that are 6.9 mm and 13.5 mm thick, all three lengths
of PTFE encapsulated Stir Stixs can be accommodated. The holes
in the plenums are just large enough to accommodate one Stir Stix.
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When Stir
Stixs are added to the dispenser they lay down flat and don't
enter the plenum holes. |
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The trick
is to place the dispenser over a large and very powerful magnetic field
(VP 771) which will cause the Stir StiXs to stand on end and
then fall down into the holes. Below the top plenum is a
bottom plenum also with 96 holes but in the resting condition the two
plenums are misaligned and will not allow the Stir StiX to pass
through.
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By using
200 to 300 Stir StiXs and quickly moving the dispenser back and forth
over the magnetic field from the VP 771 the perpendicular Stir StiXs
move over the plenum surface and fall into the holes until all holes
are filled.
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When the
dispenser is taken off the magnet, the remaining unloaded Stir StiXs
fall down flat. By depressing the Dispense Knob the two plenum
hole patterns are aligned vertically and the loaded Stir StiXs
drop into the microplate wells beneath them. The excess Stir StiXs
that are laying flat do not interfere with the loading.
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VP
733-2A-1 Collar Adaptor for loading Stir StiXs into Tubes in 96
format.
Several different companies make tube racks or blocks with a
variety of shapes and heights that do not align to the bottom of the VP
733-2A Stir StiX dispenser. We have solved that problem by
building a universal Collar Adaptor that aligns the rack to the bottom
of the Stir Stix Dispenser.
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The Collar Adaptor
also can be used with our 96 well
disc and bar dispensers. |
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Autoclaveable drop dispenser that loads
VP 736 and VP 736-1 Stir StiXs into 96 PCR microplates.
This dispenser uses the same technique we describe in detail
for the VP 733-2A dispenser described
above and illustrated in the photos to the right.
Download instructional video of how to use the
VP 733-2A (mpeg
movie- 13.5MB)
Press
the play button to view the video in a flash format, flash must
be installed, or click the download link to download a mpeg
version.
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Autoclaveable drop dispenser that loads
VP 736 and VP 736-1 Stir StiXs into 384 microplates.
This dispenser uses the same technique we describe in detail
for the VP 733-2A dispenser described
above and illustrated in the photos to the right.
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Autoclaveable
Drop Dispensers are used to place all three lengths of sterile PTFE
encapsulated Stir StiXs into test tubes (12 mm diameter by 75 mm
long) after the liquid is added. This 3 in one dispenser can be
sterilized by autoclaving or by heating in a hot air oven. The VP
733-3A dispenser contains 48 ordered holes (spaced on 14 mm
centers) in a top loading plenum that is 22 mm deep. By adding
additional plenums that are 6.9 mm and 13.5 mm thick, all three lengths
of PTFE encapsulated Stir StiXs can be accommodated. The holes
in the plenums are just large enough to accommodate one Stir StiX.
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By using
100 to 200 Stir StiXs and quickly moving the dispenser back and forth
over the magnetic field from the VP 771 the perpendicular Stir StiXs
move over the plenum surface and fall into the holes until all holes
are filled.
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When the
dispenser is taken off the magnet the remaining unloaded Stir StiXs
fall down flat. By depressing the Dispense Knob the two plenum
hole patterns are aligned vertically and the loaded Stir StiXs
drop into the microplate wells beneath them. The excess Stir StiXs
that are laying flat do not interfere with the loading.
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Autoclaveable
Flip Dispensers are used to place all three lengths of sterile PTFE
encapsulated Stir StiXs into wells after the liquid is added.
This 3 in one dispenser can be sterilized by autoclaving or by heating
in a hot air oven. This dispenser contains 96 ordered holes in a
top loading plenum that is 22 mm deep. By adding additional
plenums that are 6.9 mm and 13.5 mm thick, all three lengths of PTFE
encapsulated Stir StiXs can be accommodated. The holes in the
plenums are just large enough to accommodate one Stir StiX.
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The trick is to place the
dispenser over a large and very powerful magnetic field (VP 771) which
will cause the Stir StiXs to stand on end and then fall down
into the holes. By using 200 to 300 Stir StiXs and quickly
moving the dispenser back and forth over the magnetic field, the
perpendicular Stir StiXs move over the plenum surface and fall
into the holes until all holes are filled.
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Once loaded the
excess Stir StiXs are decanted off and an empty Deep Well Plate
is turned upside down on the loaded plenum and the VP 733-2B is
"flipped" over dropping the Stir StiXs into the wells. Simple as
1,2,3 and more economical then our drop dispenser VP 733-2A. The
limitation with the Flip Dispenser is that the plates have to be loaded
with the Stir StiXs prior to adding liquid.
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| Autoclaveable Stir StiX Drop Dispenser with
additional plenums for loading 96 VP 733-2, VP 734-2 and VP 735-2 Stir
StiXs (three dispensers in one). Also includes Heavy Duty
loading magnet
(VP 771).
The dispenser is constructed of anodized Aluminum and Polypropylene
plenums. |
VP 733-2A |
| Autoclaveable
Alignment Collar for 96 tube racks |
VP
733-2A-1 |
| Autoclaveable Stir StiX Flip Dispenser with
additional plenums for loading VP 733-2, VP 734-2 and VP 735-2 Stir StiXs
(three dispensers in one). Also includes Heavy Duty loading
magnet (VP 771).
The dispenser is constructed of anodized Aluminum and Polypropylene
plenums. |
VP 733-2B |
| Autoclaveable
Stir StiX Drop Dispenser with additional plenums for loading 48
VP 733-2, VP 734-2 and VP 735-2 Stir StiXs (three dispensers in
one). Also includes Heavy Duty loading magnet
(VP 771) and the test tube
adaptor.. The dispenser is constructed of anodized Aluminum and
Polypropylene plenums. |
VP 733-3A |
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We are still working to
develop a Stir StiX dispenser for the non-PTFE encapsulated
Stainless Steel Stir StiXs. |
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